Timewarp MGB GT with just 1,500 miles on the clock to go up for auction.

• 1980 MG B GT in original, preserved and unrestored condition for auction with CCA
• More than 30 years in dry storage and just 1,500 recorded miles
• Offered at an estimate of £12,000 to £15,000 at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show

A 1980 MG B GT in time-warp condition with an incredibly low mileage will be offered by Classic Car Auctions (CCA) in its biggest sale ever on 1^st and 2^nd April at the NEC, Birmingham.

Presented in spectacular, original condition, the right-hand drive manual MG B GT was first registered on 17th September 1980, the very last year of production, and will be offered at auction at an estimate of £12,000 to £15,000.

Quite remarkably, this amazing MG B GT has had just one registered owner from new who has preserved the car to appear as it did the day he purchased it. Not only has the car barely been touched, it has hardly been driven with just 1,500 miles recorded since leaving the British Leyland dealership in September 1980.

The car has spent over 30 years in dry storage, remaining almost untouched other than to be treated with rustproofing to be serviced in April 1982. It was made ready for the road in December 2014, and shortly after enjoyed its first ever MoT with 1,348 miles showing.

Today the car presents beautifully in its original Brooklands Green paintwork with the rare orange and brown 'Deckchair' trim, as well as the chrome works, glass, headlining, dashboard and carpets all retained in very good condition.

“This is a genuine, preserved, unrestored example of a much-loved and enjoyable, classic British sports car,” explains Nigel Gough, classic car specialist, CCA. “Rarely do we see a car of this age with such a low mileage, and the owner has clearly kept the car this way intentionally to create what we call a time-warp example of the model, which is highly collectible.”

Included in the sale is original documentation including the initial bill of sale, an invoice for ‘Protectol' rustproofing service costing £112.00 and the original service book with one entry on 26th April 1982 indicating a mileage at that point of 984.

“This near 37 year old car is something special. It's a little piece of late summer in 1980,” concludes Nigel.

A series of Ford hot hatches and super saloons goes under the hammer at the Silverstone Auctions next month.

• A collection of Ford hot hatchbacks from the Seventies, Eighties and Nineties will be auctioned at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show next month
• Low-mileage 1987 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 expected to fetch £70,000 - £80,000 and a 1996 Ford Escort Cosworth Lux with 7,700 miles is estimated to sell for £38,000 - £44,000, meanwhile a 1993 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth 4x4 is guided at £30,000 – £35,000
• Concours condition 5,568-mile 1985 Ford Escort RS Turbo Series I and pre-production 1978 Ford Capri 3.0 S will be sold without reserve
• Joining the line-up is a suspected development 1970 Ford Capri RS2600 that is expected to sell for £27,000 – £29,000 and a restored 1974 Ford Capri RS3100, guided to sell for £45,000 - £50,000
• Silverstone Auctions’ two-day sale at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show held at the NEC, Birmingham on 14-15 November

A selection of high-quality and historically important high-performance Fords will be auctioned at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at the NEC, Birmingham on the weekend of 14-15 November.

The auction line-up will see a number of Fords from the Seventies, Eighties and Nineties go under the hammer by Silverstone Auctions; each of which has been carefully selected by the specialist auction team based on their history, provenance, low-mileage status and condition.

One of the most significant cars being auctioned is a 1987 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500. The car is one of just 500 examples sold in Britain and is one of the more powerful ‘Evolution’ models. The car is finished in white, one of just 56 examples finished in this colour, and is presented in ‘time warp’ condition having covered just over 13,000 miles. It will be auctioned with a guide price of £70,000 - £80,000 and comes from a significant classic car collection.

A 1996 Ford Escort Cosworth Lux also forms part of the NEC Classic Motor Show Sale and follows its legendary Eighties Sierra namesake. The highly desirable Lux variant has covered just 7,700 miles from new and has had just five previous owners (three in the same family). The car in question was one of the last examples to leave the production line and will be sold for £38,000 - £44,000 after an extensive service and cam belt change.

Another last of the line example is a well-presented 1993 Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth 4x4. This particular understated four door, four-wheel drive was the last of its type to leave the production line, as confirmed by a letter from Ford Genk. The car has covered just 20,006 miles and the Mallard Green paintwork gleams, while the black leather Recaro seats show little wear. The car is estimated to sell for £27,000 - £29,000.

The auction will also see two iconic Fords be sold without reserve. Lucky bidders will get the chance to buy a 1985 Ford Escort Turbo Series I that has covered just 5,568 miles. Described as being in Concours/factory-fresh condition, this particular example is believed to be the lowest mileage Series 1 RS Turbo in existence.

Another important car being sold without reserve is one of the most famous and historically important Ford Capris. The 1978 3.0 S example is a pre-production vehicle and has been on the cover of many automotive magazines throughout its life. The car was used as a test-bed for tuning and was once a long-term test car for Autocar; it was even owned by John Miles – ex-Lotus Formula 1 driver and journalist. Having been professionally restored, the bespoke one-of-one paint colour was preserved, and engine was rebuilt using a 3.2-litre engine and WMD crank.

Finishing off the collection of iconic Fords at the auction is two restored Seventies Capris. The first of which is a 1970 Capri RS2600, which is believed to be one of three factory prototypes. The car has undergone a significant restoration to exacting factory specification and is ready to be enjoyed for many years to come. The car is expected to sell for £26,000 - £30,000.

The second of the Capri line-up is another restored example with a story. This 1974 Capri RS3100 was bought later in in 1981 by Dennis Sellers, ex-Chairman of The Ford RS Owners Club who restored it using original Ford body parts and fittings but later sold it as a complete but unfinished project. Twenty years after the sale, the Capri was finished; including a complete engine rebuild. Having completed only running-in mileage since its restoration, this particular example is believed to be one of the best examples available on the current market today. It will be sold at the NEC Classic Motor Show Sale with an estimate of £45,000 - £50,000.

Silverstone Auctions will also be exhibiting at Classic & Sports Car - The London Show, held at Alexandra Palace from 30 October – 1 November as auctioneers for the silent auction. The auction house will be exhibiting two cars on their stand, as well as offering on-site valuations to show visitors.

For the full list of lots in The NEC Classic Motor Show Sale, please visit:http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/nec-classic-motor-show-sale-2015/view_lots/pn/all

Do you want a BRAND NEW 1980 Talbot Lotus Sunbeam, well you can.....

Silverstone Auctions is offering the chance to own a ‘brand new’ hot hatch icon, a 1980 Talbot Lotus Sunbeam, in its auction at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show. The car is presented in immaculate, as new condition, has never been registered and has covered just 193 miles in its lifetime.

The left-hand drive, time warp car was discovered overlooked and ignored as part of a large private collection in Italy by the current vendor. Every single aspect of the car is factory standard and it appears like it has just rolled off the production line. It is estimated at between £24,000 and £28,000 and finished in the evocative colour scheme of Embassy Black with silver decals.

“It’s incredibly rare to discover a historic car that is ‘brand new’ but this is exactly what we have here. Sitting in this amazing example takes you right back to the late 70s and early 80s and the early days of the hot hatchback”, said Nick Whale, managing director, Silverstone Auctions.

The Talbot Sunbeam-Lotus was one of the most exciting hot hatchbacks to emerge from the 1970s. It originally came about because Chrysler commissioned Lotus to produce an effective entrant for international Group 4 rallying. Lotus took a Sunbeam 1.6GLS shell and installed a 2.2-litre version of the Lotus 16-valve four-cylinder engine and a five-speed ZF gearbox. It proved very effective in rallying, winning the challenging 1980 Lombard-RAC event. The road-going version proved quick and balanced, although it was priced higher than the comparable Chevette HS or Escort RS2000.

Having never been registered, the buyer of this vehicle will be the first registered keeper in its history. Supplied with all hand books, service books and a fresh UK MoT, this 1980s icon is an incredible find for any collector of modern-classics.

“This really is a time warp car, immaculately preserved. Nothing has been modified and this must surely be the only unregistered and lowest mileage Talbot Lotus Sunbeam in existence”, added Nick.

The vendor describes this vehicle as in "perfect running order” and will be supplied with a NOVA certificate for the new owner to register the car. The car will be auctioned on the 16^th of November at the NEC, Birmingham as part of Silverstone Auctions’ two-day sale the Classic Motor Show.

For more information please visit http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/talbot-sunbeam-lotus.

Timewarp unregistered MG Midget, up for auction.

Anglia Car Auctions has discovered another ‘timewarp’ classic with low mileage – an unregistered 1980 MG Midget with just 162 miles on the clock.

The vendor brought the car brand new after hearing of the imminent demise of MG but never registered the vehicle as he intended to give the car to one of his young children on passing their driving test. 

ACA owner Lyn George explains: “After 11 months, the car was despatched to Holland Brothers in Sleaford, in a horsebox of all things, for its first annual service. The car had, at this point, covered just 143 delivery miles.

“Whilst at the main dealer, they discovered that the speedo would not read above 10mph. It was duly replaced and the speedometer now reads 19 miles giving a total mileage of 162.” 

The car, in vermillion red, remains unregistered but is complete with the original bill of sale, owner’s handbooks, and service manuals. It is estimated to warrant a sale price of between £7,000 to £9,000.

The MG Midget will be just one of the vehicles on offer in Anglia Car Auctions’ Classic Sale on Saturday 14^thJune, with viewing on the afternoon of Friday 13th June.

Five millionth Audi with quattro all-wheel drive rolls off the assembly line at Neckarsulm

• A6 allroad 3.0 TDI is five millionth Audi with quattro AWD
• More than 140 quattro variants currently bolster the Audi model range
• Over 43% of Audi customers chose quattro in 2012

Audi has just proved that there really is safety in numbers by producing its five millionth quattro all-wheel-drive-equipped model – an A6 allroad. The rugged, air-suspended Avant is just one of over 140 variants across the Audi range currently benefiting from this invaluable all-weather grip enhancer, which made the pioneering transition from rally stage to road courtesy of the Vorsprung durch Technik brand back in the Eighties.

“quattro is one of the key pillars of our brand and has been a critical factor in our successful history,” said Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. “The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system makes it possible to directly experience our ‘Vorsprung durch Technik.’ We are committed to our pioneering role and will continue to develop this advantage with new technologies.”

An instant hit at the 1980 Geneva Motor Show, the 200PS Audi quattro showcased the first mainstream four-wheel-drive system. It triggered the intensive development that has culminated in today’s leading edge Audi all-wheel-drive technology, which instils impressive all-weather traction and exceptionally high limits of adhesion in the latest quattro variants.

Last year, more than 43 per cent of Audi customers opted for the added reassurance of quattro, and the Neckarsulm plant in Germany – home of quattro GmbH – equipped one car in every two on the production line with the technology.

Audi quattro: the latest incarnation

A rear axle-mounted multi-plate clutch version of the quattro system currently safely contains Audi models with transversely mounted engines from the Q3 through to the TT, and a further developed version will soon return to the all-new A3 and 300PS S3. Models with longitudinally mounted engines, including the A4, A5, A6, A7, A8 and Q7, divide their torque across all four wheels by way of a self-locking centre differential, the most advanced version of which is the crown gear differential used by RS 4 Avant, RS 5 Coupe and RS 5 Cabriolet models, and soon to feature in the forthcoming RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback models.

The advanced crown gear differential channels power to where it is needed, and away from where it isn’t, more quickly than ever before in the interest of optimal handling composure and agility. Up to 70 per cent of torque can be apportioned to the front axle, and up to 85 per cent channeled to the rear, where in the RS models a sports differential is also on hand to divide power between the rear wheels in the most effective proportions possible.

The latest generation R8 incorporates another variation - a viscous coupling capable of diverting between 15 and 30 per cent of torque to the front wheels, depending on conditions. Located on the front axle, the coupling is powered through a cardan shaft that runs to the front from the transmission through the engine’s crankcase.

Motorsport domination

Since its humble beginnings in 1981, quattro all-wheel drive has monopolised motorsport with formidable performances on track and tarmac. Four titles in the rally world championships (Driver’s & Manufacturers’), three overall victories at Pikes Peak, a championship win in the TransAm (Driver’s & Manufacturers’), two DTM titles, almost 20 national touring car championships (Driver’s & Manufacturers’) and the FIA Touring Car World Cup have been notched up by Audi thanks in no small part to the supreme control and grip supplied by quattro.

Audi quattro in detail – the road to success

The origins of quattro can be traced back to the winter of 1976-77, when a group of Audi engineers conducted test drives in the deep snow in Sweden. A Volkswagen Iltis was also participating for comparison purposes, and despite its mere 75PS output, the leggy all-terrain vehicle easily outran the much more powerful Audi prototypes with their front-wheel drive systems. A few weeks later a small team of engineers led by Dr. Ferdinand Piëch, then the Audi Board Member for Technical Development, began developing an all-wheel-drive car.

Their tour de force, which made the possibility of series production genuinely viable, was a seemingly simple hollow shaft, the integration of which permitted construction of an all-wheel drive system that was virtually tension-free, light, compact and efficient, and that operated without the need for a heavy transfer case or second cardan shaft.

The hollow shaft was a drilled-out secondary shaft in the transmission through which power flowed in two directions. It drove the centre differential from its rearmost end. The other half of drive torque was transferred to the front axle’s differential along an output shaft rotating inside the hollow secondary shaft.

The revolutionary technology made its world debut at Geneva in 1980 in the new Audi quattro, a 200PS sports coupé which was originally destined for production in low volumes. Such was the demand for this now legendary four-wheel-drive crusader, though, that it remained in the model line-up right up until 1991. In 1984 the compact, short wheelbase Sport quattro with 306PS was also added, and in 1986 the first generation model’s manual-locking centre differential was replaced with the Torsen differential (Torsen = torque sensing). This worm gear transmission was capable of variable distribution of drive torque. The next big step came in 2005 with the planetary drive that offered asymmetrical, dynamic distribution of the power.

In parallel, Audi further expanded its line-up of quattro models, and early on in the 1980s elected to offer the system in every model line; the new models were important milestones on Audi’s path to the premium segment in the market. The first TDI with permanent all-wheel-drive appeared in 1993; four years later the technology moved into the compact segment.

Audi quattro – the motorsport connection
In early 1981 the quattro was launched headlong into the world championship scene, and quickly dominated it. Hannu Mikkola of Finland won the first six special stages in the snow on the Monte Carlo Rally, but unfortunately, despite a lead of almost six minutes, had to concede defeat after his car made contact with a wall. By as early as 1982, the quattro had proved itself unbeatable; Audi redefined the benchmark with seven victories and captured the Manufacturers' Championship. The following year Mikkola took home the drivers’ title.

The 1984 season also started off with a bang – the newly recruited two-time world champion Walter Röhrl won the Monte Carlo Rally ahead of his team colleagues Stig Blomqvist (Sweden) and Hannu Mikkola. At the end of the season, Audi took the world Manufacturers’ title as in 1982 and Blomqvist won the drivers’ title.

The final car was the Sport quattro S1. It celebrated its greatest triumph in 1987: Walter Röhrl stormed up the 156 curves of Pikes Peak in Colorado, USA, in absolute record time with about 600PS of power at his disposal.

In the following years, Audi shifted its focus to racing touring cars. Starting in 1988 the brand raced in the TransAm series and won the title on its first attempt. In 1990 the brand switched to the German Touring Car Championship, or DTM, and Hans Stuck also took the title here in the first year with the large and powerful V8 quattro.

Audi became the first manufacturer in the history of the German Touring Car Championship to stage a successful defence of its title.  Frank Biela rounded off an impressive first season for Audi with a double win in the last race of the season at Hockenheim, succeeding his team-mate Hans-Joachim Stuck - placed third - as champion. In 1996 the A4 quattro Supertouring, with its two-litre, four-cylinder engine, entered seven national championships on three continents – and won them all.

Two years later the European ruling bodies banned all-wheel drive almost completely from touring car races. The Audi balance sheet up to that point read as follows: four titles in the rally world championships, three victories at Pikes Peak, a championship win in the TransAm, two DTM titles, eleven national touring car championships and a touring car world championship. All-wheel-drive didn’t reappear again in racing until 2012. The hybrid-diesel Audi R18 e-tron quattro interpreted the formula in a new and groundbreaking way – and immediately celebrated a dazzling one-two victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours.